Radioactivity

Q1.
(a)     Complete the sentences about atoms.

In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of _________________ .

All atoms of an element have the same number of __________________________ .

Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of _____________________ .

(3)

(b)     Complete the sentence.

When an atom of a radioactive element emits alpha radiation, an atom of a different

element is formed. A different element is formed because the radioactive element

has lost ________________________ .

(1)
(Total 4 marks)

Q2.
The diagrams below represent three atoms, A, B and C.

(a)     Two of the atoms are from the same element.

(i)      Which of A, B and C is an atom of a different element? _____________

(ii)     Give one reason for your answer.

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(2)

(b)     Two of these atoms are isotopes of the same element.

(i)      Which two are isotopes of the same element? _________ and ____________

(ii)     Explain your answer.

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______________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q3.
(a)     Atoms are made up of three types of particle called protons, neutrons and electrons.
Complete the table below to show the relative mass and charge of a neutron and an
electron. The relative mass and charge of a proton has already been done for you.
 

PARTICLE RELATIVE MASS RELATIVE CHARGE

proton 1 +1

neutron    

electron    

(2)

(b)     The diagram below shows the paths of two alpha particles A and B, into and out of a thin
piece of metal foil.

The paths of the alpha particles depend on the forces on them in the metal.
Describe the model of the atom which is used to explain the paths of alpha particles
aimed at thin sheets of metal foil.

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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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Radioactivity

Q4.
The diagram represents an atom of beryllium.

(a)     Complete the following statements by writing one of the letters, J, K or L, in each box.

Each letter should be used only once.

 

The particle with a positive charge is

 
 

The particle with the smallest mass is

 
 

The particle with no charge is

 
(2)

(b)     Give the reason why all atoms have a total charge of zero.

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(1)

(c)     Complete the following sentence.

There are several isotopes of beryllium. Atoms of different beryllium

isotopes will have different numbers of ___________________________________

(1)

(d)     What happens to the structure of an atom to change it into an ion?

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Radioactivity

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(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q5.
Figure 1 shows two models of the atom.

Figure 1

(a)  Write the labels on Figure 1

Choose the answers from the box.

 
atom electron nucleus
neutron orbit proton
(4)

(b)  Explain why the total positive charge in every atom of an element is always the same.

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(2)

(c)  The results from the alpha particle scattering experiment led to the nuclear model.

Alpha particles were fired at a thin film of gold at a speed of 7% of the speed of light.

Determine the speed of the alpha particles.

Speed of light = 300 000 000 m/s

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Radioactivity

Speed = _____________________ m/s

(2)

(d)  Figure 2 shows two atoms represented as solid spheres.

Figure 2

A hydrogen atom has a radius of 2.5 × 10−11 m

Determine the radius of a magnesium atom.

Use measurements from Figure 2

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Radius = _____________________ m
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q6.
Different radioactive isotopes emit different types of nuclear radiation.

A polonium-210 (Po) nucleus emits an alpha particle (α) and turns into a lead (Pb) nucleus.

This can be represented by the equation:

(a)     What is the value of A in the equation?

Tick (✓) one box.

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A = 206 A = 208 A = 210 A = 211

(1)

(b)     What is the value of Z in the equation?

Tick (✓) one box.

 

Z = 80 Z = 82 Z = 85 Z = 86

(1)

(c)     A strontium-89 nucleus (Sr) emits a beta particle (β) and turns into an yttrium nucleus (Y).

This can be represented by the equation:

What are the values of A and Z in the equation?

A = ________________________
Z = ________________________
(2)

(d)     Gamma radiation is another type of nuclear radiation.

What does gamma radiation consist of?

Tick (✓) one box.

 

High energy neutrons

Electromagnetic waves

Particles with no charge

Positively charged ions

(1)

(e)     Explain the differences between the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiations.

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Radioactivity

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(6)
(Total 11 marks)

Q7.
(a)     The diagram represents 3 atoms, K, L and M.

(i)      Which two of the atoms are isotopes of the same element?

__________ and __________

(1)

(ii)     Give a reason why the two atoms that you chose in part (a)(i) are:

(1) atoms of the same element ____________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(2) different isotopes of the same element. ___________________________

______________________________________________________________

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(2)

(b)     The table gives some information about the radioactive isotope thorium-230.
 

mass number 230

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Radioactivity

atomic number 90

(i)      How many electrons are there in an atom of thorium-230?

_________________________
(1)

(ii)     How many neutrons are there in an atom of thorium-230?

_________________________
(1)

(c)     When a thorium-230 nucleus decays, it emits radiation and changes into radium-226.

What type of radiation, alpha, beta or gamma, is emitted by thorium-230?

_________________________

Explain the reason for your answer.

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(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q8.
(a)     The diagrams represent three atoms X, Y and Z.

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Radioactivity

X     Y          Z

Which two of the atoms are from the same element?

___________________________________________________________________

Give a reason for your answer.

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(2)

(b)     In the early part of the 20th century some scientists investigated the paths taken by
positively charged alpha particles into and out of a very thin piece of gold foil. The
diagram shows the paths of three alpha particles.

Explain the different paths A, B and C of the alpha particles.

To gain full marks in this question you should write your ideas in good English. Put them
into a sensible order and use the correct scientific words.

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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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